I missed this from the official Michigan press release on the Notre Dame night game, hat tip to to mgoblog’s user Firstbase for pointing it out: The series between Michigan and Notre Dame will remain unchanged through 2017. Michigan and Notre Dame will take two years off, the 2018 and 2019 seasons, to play home-and-home series with other schools before resuming the non-conference rivalry in 2020. That’s new.  When the contract was signed back in 2007 it was firm for every year until 2031.  That just changed. I emailed Dave Ablauf in media relations and he confirmed that this was indeed, “added during current discussions between the two schools.” What we don’t know of course what Michigan intends to do with its open slot (2019), but here’s to hoping it’s a home-and-home against a biggie.  LSU?  Texas?  We’ll see.

Via U-M Media Relations, the official release, issued this afternoon.  One item not mentioned: Parking opens at 8am?  It’s a marathon not a sprint people!   Pace yourselves Wolverine tailgaters: U-M and ND to Play Historic ‘Big House’ Night Game in 2011 ANN ARBOR — University of Michigan Athletic Director Dave Brandon announced today (March 18) a historic night football game at Michigan Stadium between the two rivals on Sept. 10, 2011. It will be the first-ever primetime game played at home in the history of Michigan football. This will be the first meeting between the Wolverines and Irish in primetime since a 1990 match-up of top five teams in South Bend. ESPN or ESPN2 will broadcast the game nationally starting at 8 p.m. Eastern time. “This will be an unprecedented game day atmosphere that our fans have not experienced at Michigan Stadium,” said Brandon. “It’s a great opportunity to showcase our program, University and Ann Arbor to a primetime viewing audience. This also adds a new chapter to the storied rivalry between our two great programs.” “Our players have always enjoyed playing night games and I think it’s something that our fans will truly enjoy and embrace,” said Michigan head coach Rich Rodriguez. “I expect the atmosphere will be electric for this match-up at the Big House.” U-M played three…

Tomorrow Jim Rome takes his show to town – Motown that is, where he’ll broadcast his national show from 12-3 in studio on WDFN 1130AM, then he’ll meet fans over at Northville Downs later that afternoon.  Via WDFN’s website: WDFN is inviting all of our listeners to Northville Downs on March 19th at 12p for the start of the first Friday of the Tourney. Drew Sharp + Tom "Killer" Kowalski will be broadcasting LIVE from 3p-6p. Northville Downs will have live harness racing, multiple TV’s and most importantly $2 drafts all day long! It’s Friday, and we’ve got horse racing, college basketball, $2 beers, CCHA tickets, Sharp & Killer, and oh yeah, JIM ROME! So make sure you leave work early and join us March 19th in our very own Jim Rome Jungle at Northville Downs. Sadly I don’t think we’ll see Rome take any laps around the Northville track harness-style, or any other way for that matter.  But he will be there along with Detroit’s finest 25-45 year-old chugging $2 drafts.  

Michigan football is currently in a contract to play Notre Dame through 2031.  HOWEVER, according to media relations there is an update today at 2:30: University of Michigan Athletic Director Dave Brandon and Football Coach Rich Rodriguez will meet with the media today (March 18) in the Commons at Schembechler Hall, beginning at 2:30 p.m. EDT. The press opportunity is in regard to a football scheduling announcement with Notre Dame. Says me, quickly: I sure hope they are not breaking this contract!   Perhaps a night game is in the works?   Perhaps they’ll square off at Yankee Stadium? 

(HT: Justin at MLive)  Check out this brief exchange with Fab Fivers Jimmy King and Jalen Rose, in studio on ESPN’s First Take from yesterday.  How would the 1992 all Freshman version fare against John Wall and Kentucky?   No doubt, boo, no doubt! I love that Jalen refused to stop his preamble about the aura of the Fab 5 despite Skip Bayless repeatedly cutting in.  Sidenote:  Word on the street is that Jimmy King will be at the Jim Rome appearance at Northville Downs this Friday afternoon and is trying to drag a few other Fab 5’ers with him – nice! Sidenote #2: Speaking of Michigan-Kentucky, memories of when Jalen and crew were sophomores naturally focus on the 1993 Final Four and the Webber timeout.  Lost in that is the incredible semi-final game on Saturday against Jamal Mashburn and the Wildcats.  It was unbelievable.  I was there about 20 rows behind the bench and it remains one of the best games I’ve seen.

Check out this cool old business card from the desk of none other than General Bo Schembechler, complete with 313 area code and The Big House as a backdrop: Except for the maize stripe up top, that’s a MAN’s business card, people.  I can see Bo jamming that in some recruit’s chest, telling him to only call when he’s ready to come to Michigan.  According to the seller, Bo delivered the card to him in 1983 when he was being recruited by the Wolverines. I reached out to the seller who confirmed that Bo’s charms worked, and he played for Michigan in 84-85.   “I actually blew my knee out in the Monday practice after the Washington game in ‘84”, he told me via email.   “Bo came to see me in the hospital on the day my girlfriend was also visiting.”  After checking out the scene, Bo told the seller, “I should have known you’d have a f***ing broad in here!” Bo was a beauty. Why is he selling the card?  “Knowing that Bo had left us I thought someone who never got to know him would like to have some of these items, so I listed them on eBay to see if there was anyone interested.”   He’s also selling his offensive playbook from the 1983 season. The auction of Bo’s…

I’m pretty geeked to get out there to see the 2010 squad.  Practice starts tomorrow and I’m going to try to swing by this week to get some insight along with a few photos.   Not a surprise, but Media Relations advised that neither Rodriguez nor the players will comment on the NCAA investigation during the spring and possibly into the fall.  Naturally I expect a few in the media to either ignore this or ask anyway.  We’ll see what happens. Note: Rich Rodriguez will be joining Ira and Sam on WKTA 1050AM at around 8:20am tomorrow morning and WTKA will have audio from his presser at Schembechler Hall tomorrow. Check back in, hopefully I’ll have a few pics and clips from the opening day. Don’t forget, the Spring Game is April 17th, starting at 1pm.